Council lauds Arts, Inc. directory and honors long-serving city employees

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday received a presentation from Arts, Inc. about a newly published arts-resource directory intended as an advocacy and teachers’ guide for Southern California arts organizations.

Beth Fox, executive director of Arts, Inc., told the council the fourth-edition print book appears in Borders and Barnes & Noble and that the National Endowment for the Arts provided seed money to convert the directory into a CD-ROM for wider distribution. “Healthy cities have healthy arts communities,” Fox said, describing the volume as a tool for connecting teachers to local artists and programs.

Beverly Ryder, chair of Arts, Inc., urged that copies be placed in Los Angeles public schools. Artist Roberto Gutierrez, who designed the book’s cover and whose work hangs in City Hall, thanked the council for the opportunity to display local artists’ work in civic spaces.

Separately, the council paused for tributes to longtime public servants. Council Member Jackie Goldberg read a resolution commending Red Martinez for more than eight years on the Board of Public Works and cited his background in union and construction trades and his community leadership. Multiple council members rose to offer personal remarks.

The council also honored Sharon Sloan for 31 years with the Department of Recreation and Parks and presented a certificate to Susanna Reyes, manager of the city facilities recycling program, who is transferring to the Department of Water and Power. Members credited Reyes with expanding recycling across city facilities; Reyes said elected-official support and her staff were central to the program’s success.

The recognitions were ceremonial and no substantive votes or policy changes arose from the presentations.